carly ann smallbird

Ganister and the University in Marigolds

We continue our travels within Ganister, until the completion of the Sun Parade

• The lantern gifted to SUPERB by Absalom began to glow and lead him in a direction; he followed and Valerie pursued close behind. Soon they found themselves deep in the tunnels beneath Ganister, in strange caves marked by mysterious symbols¹ with lights and singing down the tunnels
• Meanwhile, Evangeline and Chicory enjoyed themselves at the parade, and we described a great deal of street foods and dishes involving prickly pears and/or sweetbreads. They eventually run into Cinder, a trans vulture guy Evangeline knew and argued extensively with during her past time with the rebellion. They talk and catch up and only argue a little, and Chicory feels unsure how to feel about their relationship with the rebellion of the past and their ideals in the present.²
• Reaching a five way split, SUPERB and Valerie find the lantern directing them towards a cavern full of lights and song; when they arrive, they discover a banquet set for 99 minnow demons, with a ringtail child set in the place of honor as their own Bloom Queen. The banqueters dine on cave creatures and clear soups and mushroom dishes and cold, clear wine. They discover that the minnow demons drew her down to the labyrinth to serve as their Bloom Queen for the Sun Parade, in accordance with ancient pacts with the world in exchange for secret knowledge and wisdoms. They also learn that the lost innocent has been here a number of years³, but that the minnows have kept her here out of a perceived necessity, as they themselves are trapped by "the cunning of kith" within the labyrinth beneath Ganister. Valerie reveals that Absalom has secreted them a true key to navigating the labyrinth and bargains the 99 minnow demons' freedom in exchange for the lost innocent's own. They agree, and Valerie leads them to freedom. As they return to the river, they gift SUPERB a strange taper candle that burns with cold blue flame, and a sealed vessel of their chill wine to Valerie. The girl recovers some at sunset as was agreed, and recalls her name was Temperance, and that Absalom had adopted her 13 years ago and had been searching for her ever since. She then gifted them a signet ring from her first father that matched the encoded scroll in SUPERB's possession
• The caravan reunited and discussed their days after dinner with Ch'u, the Loquacious Scholar. They discussed the events of the day; learned that the signet with the mark of asphodel indicated a rebellion spymaster (as well as about Evangeline's own role in information networks of the time); and discussed whether and how to inform Temperance of her first father's death

???

Next week, we visit a monastery of meadmakers built near a broken temple of the Slobbering God.

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1. The Plumber's Cant

2. Also discussed: the systems of governance in use across the Haeth; the broader geopolitical situation; the various experiments in governance in a post-rebellion world; the necessity of regional organization to facilitate advanced trade; and determining that Cinder and Evangeline argued a lot because Cinder was more of a communist while Evangeline is more of an anarchist.

3. The Bloom Queen only recalls it as being a series of days; her memories befuddled by the powers of the demons